Birthday Weekend!

 My birthday this year was great, as usual. You really can't go wrong with a birthday on Valentine's Day:) Brad and Charlotte brought me breakfast in bed with some beautiful tulips and notes written on paper cranes. Brad had class after that, but we left when Brad came back from school for Orcas Island. Charlotte spent the night with Grandma and Grandpa Gerhardt. Brad is really the most thoughtful person and recreated a lot of the memories and writing from when we got engaged at Orcas Island four years ago. It was a gorgeous day and we had a long wait at the very full ferry terminal, which we didn't mind.

 Brad made reservations at a beautiful hotel on the Rosario resort on the island. The view was breathtaking. You could see the sound and the islands. It was a very clear day when we got there too, so we could see the stars and the full moon out. There was a little waterfall next to where we stayed too, and we could hear the sound of water from our room. We hiked up a little trail behind the building which went by the waterfall and up to the lake. It was beautiful, but the trail was straight uphill. It was killer! We made it though, and it was flat for a while at the top.

 There was a thin layer of ice on the water from all the cold weather for the last few weeks. Yikes. The first day was much warmer than the second.

 This is the view from the tower at the top of Mt. Constitution on the island. It was overcast, but it was just high enough for us to see the mountains and mainland in the distance. This is where Brad proposed.

 Spring crocuses!

Juanita Beach

I have loved enjoying the warm summer weather at the beach this summer. I am going to miss summer, but fall is pretty beautiful around here too. Here are some pictures from our latest trip to the beach. I'm sure we'll make it to the beach a couple more times before fall is really here.

 Charlotte's lovely hat/bucket.

Summer Solstice

 Brad and I went on an adventure to Whidbey Island for our date night on Friday. We left Charlotte with her grandparents since she's decided that she doesn't like the car lately. We went as far west as we could so that we could see the sun set on the coast. It was amazing. I love summer.

 ^I would love to do this sometime. ^

Tour of Seattle

We went all over Seattle today to show my mom all of our favorite places. We went to Gasworks Park, Discovery Park, and the Ballard Locks. Charlotte was all about doing her own thing and making her own path. 

Orcas Island

Orcas Island is definitely one of my favorite places ever. I love being on the ferryboat and seeing all the little islands surrounded by sparkling water out the window. We could even see a few mountain ranges out in the distance. I'm so glad that we live so close now (and that Aunt Melissa came so that we could show her around a few of our favorite places). 

Obligatory jumping picture^^

 This was Charlotte's first time on the ferry and she loved it. She ran around and giggled at everyone.   

 This is the tower where Brad proposed to me a few years ago. We had to show Charlotte, even if it meant a short nap.

 These pictures are from the Rosario mansion on the island. Charlotte was obsessed with the cool lamp posts. She couldn't stop looking at them and didn't want to leave them.

There were tons of starfish in the water! I have never seen anything like it before.